Hydrogen Electric Dash 8 Created by Universal Hydrogen Passes Crucial Milestone
magniX, a manufacturer of electric propulsion solutions for aviation, is delighted to have powered the first flight of Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen electric De Havilland Canada DHC8-Q300 (Dash 8) aircraft. The Dash 8 lifted off at 8:41 am PST from Grant County International Airport (MWH) in Moses Lake, Washington, U.S., flying for 15 minutes. Universal Hydrogen replaced one of the Dash 8’s two conventional turboprop engines with a magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU) which was provided with electricity by a hydrogen fuel cell system. The Dash 8 represents the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft.
“This is the first hydrogen airplane to be powered by a magniX EPU and we are delighted to be leading the aerospace industry once again,” said Nuno Taborda, CEO at magniX. “Hydrogen has never enjoyed greater mindshare and we have witnessed many governments laying out ambitious strategies to harness it. Passing this milestone with Universal Hydrogen furthers our mission to accelerate the adoption of zero-carbon flight.”
magniX’s flight-proven EPUs are electron agnostic, meaning they can be powered by any electric power source. magniX has powered a number of battery-electric aircraft, including a De Havilland Beaver seaplane (2019), a Cessna Grand Caravan (2020), a Robinson 44 helicopter (2022), and the Eviation Alice (2022), the first flight-tested all-electric commuter airplane. magniX also recently announced plans to develop hydrogen fuel cells to complement its battery electric and hybrid electric systems. Hydrogen produces zero carbon emissions when it is used and has a high energy density, providing the capability to power larger electric aircraft.
“Hydrogen fuel cells are an important next step in the electric age of aviation, enabling us to electrify bigger aircraft and to achieve longer ranges,” said Riona Armesmith, Chief Technology Officer at magniX. “This landmark flight is a crucial step towards reaching that goal. We are very excited for the potential of hydrogen to shape the culture of aerospace. I am very pleased to congratulate Universal Hydrogen on this significant achievement.”
About magniX
Headquartered in Everett, Washington State, U.S., magniX is dedicated to leading an era of environmentally-friendly and sustainable aviation. magniX has developed a family of flight-proven electric propulsion units (EPUs) and is fast maturing its energy storage systems (ESS) for commercial aviation. With high levels of reliability, unparalleled performance and operational practicality, magniX is leading the aviation industry into a sustainable future. magniX is a subsidiary of the Clermont Group, an international business group headquartered in Singapore.
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